Announcing Devi's candidature at a press conference here, Thirumavalavan said the former Vice-Chancellor of Manonamaniam Sundaranar University was a "common candidate" of the People's Welfare Front (PWF), whose other constituents are Vaiko-led MDMK, CPI (M) and CPI.

The combine had tied up with DMDK and Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) to contest the polls.

"She is a well-known educationist who has fought for women issues among other things. Highly respected, she has been working in various fora for people's issues," Thirumavalavan said.

Thirumavalavan, who was speculated to fight from the city-based constituency after it was allocated to his party, said "our intention is not to defeat anyone, but take the politics of change," to people.

Devi will fight on a VCK ticket on the party's Ring symbol, he said. Making a comeback in the assembly elections after a gap of 15 years, Thirumavalavan said he will contest from Kattumannarkoil as it had been a favourable constituency, with him polling more votes even when he lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He had contested from Chidambaram then under which Kattumannarkoil came. He had earlier won from the same Parliamentary constituency in 2009.

RK Nagar was allotted to the party only because he wanted eight general seats of the 25 seats allotted to VCK, the party founder said.

Both DMK and VCK have fielded women candidates to take on Jayalalithaa in the RK Nagar constituency. DMK had nominated political greenhorn Shimla Muthuchozhan even as BJP has fielded MN Raja, son-in-law of a former AIADMK Minister from the Assembly segment.